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The recent development of electronic logbooks with secure off-device data storage provides a rich resource for research. We present the largest analysis of anaesthetic logbooks to date, with data from 494,235 cases logged by 964 anaesthetists over a 4-year period. Our analysis describes and compares the annual case-load and supervision levels of different grades of anaesthetists across the UK and Republic of Ireland. We calculated the number of cases undertaken per year by grade (median (IQR [range]) core trainees = 388 (252-512 [52-1204]); specialist trainees = 344 (228-480 [52-1144]); and consultants = 328 (204-500 [52-1316]). Overall, the proportion of cases undertaken with direct consultant supervision was 56.7% and 41.6% for core trainees and specialist trainees, respectively. The proportion of supervised cases reduced out-of-hours, for both core trainees (day 93.5%, evening 86.3%, night 78.6%) and specialist trainees (day 81.0%, evening 67.7%, night 56.4%)., (© 2019 Association of Anaesthetists.)

From small beginnings 50 years ago and in addition to serving its current membership of over 1000, the APA is now the primary source of information and guidance on pediatric anesthesia to the royal colleges and other regulatory authorities in the United Kingdom and Ireland. A group of anesthetists who specialized in the care of children created a committee devoted to pediatric anesthesia within the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in 1965; it soon became the AAP Section of Anesthesiology which was the first organized grouping in the world devoted to the subspecialty.[1] In summer 1972, by which time there was still no forum for meetings of pediatric anesthetists working in Britain and Ireland, Drs. In 1997, the first female APA president, Dr Susan Jones (Birmingham) was elected; she was followed in 2011 by Dr Kathy Wilkinson (Norwich). [Extracted from the article]

Safe vascular access is integral to anaesthetic and critical care practice, but procedures are a frequent source of patient adverse events. Ensuring safe and effective approaches to vascular catheter insertion should be a priority for all practitioners. New technology such as ultrasound and other imaging has increased the number of tools available. This guidance was created using review of current practice and literature, as well as expert opinion. The result is a consensus document which provides practical advice on the safe insertion and removal of vascular access devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This guideline updates and replaces the 4th edition of the AAGBI Standards of Monitoring published in 2007. The aim of this document is to provide guidance on the minimum standards for physiological monitoring of any patient undergoing anaesthesia or sedation under the care of an anaesthetist. The recommendations are primarily aimed at anaesthetists practising in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Minimum standards for monitoring patients during anaesthesia and in the recovery phase are included. There is also guidance on monitoring patients undergoing sedation and also during transfer of anaesthetised or sedated patients. There are new sections discussing the role of monitoring depth of anaesthesia, neuromuscular blockade and cardiac output. The indications for end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring have been updated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland. ri-operative management of the surgical patient with diabetes 2015" in a 2015 issue.